The Inside Scoop
May 2022
Made possible by YOU!
Thank you for reading Youth Pride, Inc.'s April edition of The Inside Scoop! Within you will read about our upcoming Plant Sale, the return of Yoga in the Park, our Virtual 5k, the Haus of Codec Marketplace, new South Country support groups for trans youth and adults, and more!
Plant Sale
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. On Saturday, May 21st from 10am-7pm, Youth Pride Inc. will be partnering with our friends at Jordan's Jungle to raise awareness about mental health and ensure that all LGBTQ+ youth have access to free, high-quality mental health services at our space. All items in the store will be on sale for 10% off and 10% of all sale proceeds will be donated to YPI to address the mental health needs of our youth.

Jordan's Jungle is located at 545 Pawtucket Ave. Pawtucket, RI 02860.
Volunteering at YPI
With RI Pride, Newport Pride, and our Plant Sale coming up, we're looking for volunteers! In addition to these large scale events, we're always looking for volunteers to help around our space and attend tabling events. IF interested in volunteering your time and efforts, email our Center Coordinator, Sy Bedrick, at Sy@youthprideri.org.

If you want to support YPI in other ways, check out our GoFundMe Campaign; we just produced a new video that highlights our current work and a project we are launching Summer/Fall of this year.
Virtual 5k
Join us for a virtual 5k benefiting YPI! Runners, bicyclists, walkers, and strollers alike can participate in this virtual event anytime anywhere between Monday, May 23, and Wednesday, June 8.

Want to complete the 5k with YPI supporters in-person? On Monday, May 23rd at 6 PM, meet YPI Board Members and Staff at the Youth Pride, Inc. Center (743 Westminster St) for a leisurely walk through Providence, making pit stops at shops and restaurants along the route that sponsors YPI! This will kick off our 2 week long virtual 5k fundraiser!

If you don’t want to run, cycle or walk, that’s okay. You can still register as a fundraiser, receive a YPI t-shirt, or donate through our race page!

Race times will be posted online as runners upload their results via the race page between 5/23 and 6/8.
Yoga in the Park
The nicer weather is back and so is Yoga in the Park! Starting May 6th, Youth Pride Inc. will be resuming our yoga programming with Soul Friend Yoga on Fridays at 3pm in Providence's Dexter Park. Come on by after school and get your stretch on for an hour! No experience needed; matts will be provided. Sign up required; link below.
Save the Date: Queer Networking Night
On Thursday, 6/18 YPI, Haus of Glitter, Haus of Codec, and Moving Education Outdoors will be hosting a Queer Networking event at Moniker Brewery in Providence. 21+ Queer professionals will have the evening to mingle and meet with others in the community while enjoying Pride theme beers and good company. More information will be released in the coming weeks; keep an eye on our social media pages for updates!
Gender Affirming Makeup
Our Center Coordinator, Sy Bedrick, was recently featured in Allure magazine! Outside of YPI, Sy is a special effects artist and teaches gender expansive students how to use makeup to look like their most authentic selves. News of their Genderful Workshops unexpectedly reached a new journalist working at Allure and they promptly contacted Sy for an interview.

Read the entire article linked below. You'll even learn when their next workshop is in case you want to attend!
Monthly Spotlight
Haus of Codec Marketplace!
Haus of Codec's (HoC) Outdoor Marketplaces are back for the nicer weather! The next market is Saturday, May 14th from 10am-4pm in Dexter Park in Providence. More than 40 vendors will be present to sell unique goods and items. Food, beverages, and live entertainment will be offered throughout the day. Clothing swaps happen at every marketplace, so bring what you can and take what you need! The park will also be filled with surprises on the Pokemon Go app; there will be a chance to win a Haus of Codec Gym Badge! A full list of vendors and market information can be found on HoC's social media pages.

If attending, stop by YPI's table on mental health counseling!
Two New Support Groups in South County
South County Mental Health is running two new virtual 8-week long support groups, one for trans and gender-diverse youth ages 13-17, and another for adults who care for trans and gender-diverse youth.

Breaking Binaries, for trans and nonbinary youth, will be starting on May 19th and meet every Thursday from then on from 6:00-7:30pm online. Trans-Forming Families, for adults who support trans and nonbinary youth, will be starting on May 17th and meet every Tuesday evening after from 6:00-7:30pm online. To learn more or sign up, check out their website linked below!
The Voice of Gertrude Stein
The Contemporary Theater Company in Wakefield, RI is performing The Voice of Gertrude Stein, a cabaret of song along with Three Sisters Who Are Not Sisters, a surrealist, darkly comedic, one-act opera on May 13th and 14th at 7pm. These offerings are part of the theater's Springboard Season, their exclusive weekend features produced by local artists.

The upcoming performance aims to highlight Gertrude Stein’s legacy as an American LGBTQIA icon, prolific artist, and feminist Jewish writer. The co-directors also have specific goals for the event; to introduce audiences to the works of writers and composers who are part of underrepresented artistic communities; to support a mix of emerging and seasoned performers who form an artistic collaborative community; to bring opera to the Rhode Island collegiate voice students who may not get many chances to see the vocal arts performed live; and to provide a safe haven for LGBTQIA+ and non-binary audiences. 

Tickets are available for purchase on a sliding scale. A link to the website and the online ticket booth is linked below. If you attend the event, look for YPI on the back cover of the program book!
RI Civic Health Index
The 2022 Rhode Island Civic Health Survey is a crucial component of the state’s first-ever Civic Health Index. When completed, the RI Civic Health Index will provide baseline context and information about diverse Rhode Islanders’ connections to civic life, and help us to understand where we are and where we’re going, together. By completing the survey, you will help ensure that the Index represents the full range of Rhode Islanders’ perspectives.

The survey should take 10 minutes and responses will be anonymous. The survey is available in English and Spanish and also compatible with screen readers for enhanced accessibility. All RI residents ages 16+ are invited to participate.
Our Mission
Mission:
Youth Pride, Inc. is dedicated to meeting the unique needs of youth and young adults impacted by sexual orientation and gender identity/expression while working to end the homophobic and transphobic environments in which they live, work and play.

Values:
LEADERSHIP: YPI is committed to creating the leaders of today. Youth voices drive our process, and we seek to develop the leadership skills necessary both within the organization and outside of it.
AFFIRMATION: YPI believes all youth must be affirmed for who they are and how they express themselves. We are committed to making that a reality in all of the environments in which young people live.
COMMUNITY: YPI believes building strong connections is essential to youth success and empowerment. We strive to create a caring, respectful and diverse community of young people and adults.
Your tax-deductible donation helps YPI continue to do the important work we do in accordance to our mission. Your gift would be directly investing in our state's LGBTQ youth so that they may have a chance to share their gifts and light with the world.
Our Programs and Services
Youth Pride, Inc. serves over 700 Rhode Island LGBTQ youth and their straight allies a year through a variety of programs and services. All YPI Center services and activities are free to youth and include a leadership development program, several support groups, a Spanish speaking group, and various social groups such as virtual Dungeons & Dragons.

Our center is home to a Basic Needs Pantry, open to youth in need of food, clothing, toiletries, and school supplies. To pick up a premade bag of items, click the Pantry button below.

In addition to free one on one counseling with licensed clinicians. we also provide case management services for youth facing challenging times. For more information on either of these services, email Andy@youthprideri.org

YPI also offers support to those who work with youth through policy and advocacy, and by providing professional development workshops and technical assistance to service providers and educators. Below is a button to our training request form.
If you have a story you feel should be included in an upcoming newsletter, email Info@youthprideri.org